Chick Picks with Joanna

Chick Picks Week 11

by Joanna Russell,posted Nov 7 2012 7:15PM

Mystery still surrounds Collin Klein injury and status Saturday against TCU. Reports had surfaced that he suffered a concussion last weekend, but Coach Snyder still hasn’t confirmed the nature of Klein’s injury….

The Ducks outlast the Trojans in a back and forth battle at the Coliseum….

Last Saturday night the Ducks came to the Coliseum prepared for battle against the Trojans and to seek revenge for that loss last season (35-38 at Autzen) that ultimately knocked Oregon (9-0; 6-0 Pac12) off as a national championship contender. Four quarters and 113 points later, they accomplished that feat outscoring USC 62-51 in an offensive battle that put up over 1300 yards of total offensive. Ducks TB Kenjon Barner (Heisman candidate, yes?) rushed for a school record 321 yards and five TD’s, contributing to the No. 2 Ducks 730 total yards of offense – the most yards ever allowed by SC. And SC (6-3; 4-3 Pac12) has been playing football since 1888…

AP Photo - Kenjon Barner

If you were pouring yourself a drink during the opening drive, you missed the first TD put on the board by the Ducks as freshman QB Mariota marched down the field and connected with De’Anthony Thomas on a 16 pass that put the Ducks up 6-0. Oregon’s explosive offense continued to score the next five consecutive possessions and headed into the half up 34-24.

SC pulled within 3 five minutes into the second half when junior RB Silas Red converted a first and goal on the Oregon 2 yard line. 34-31 Ducks. Oregon responded five minutes later with a 75 yard drive that was capped off by Barner’s 9 yard run to put the Ducks back up by 10 with five minutes left in the third. 41-31 Ducks. SC answered back and QB Matt Barkley connected with Marqise Lee on an 11 yard pass that set SC up first and goal on the Oregon 3 yard line. Silas Red finished the drive with a 3 yard run to put the Trojans within 3 once again. 41-38 Ducks. Four plays later, Marcus Mariota found Huff in the end zone on 36 yard pass to put Oregon back on top 48-38.

The Ducks outlasted No.18 USC in this back-and-forth second half battle; defeating the Trojans with a final score of 62-51 – the third highest scoring game involving ranked teams in the 76 year history of the AP poll.

AP Photo- Kenjon Barner

Mariota finished the night 20 of 23 for 304 yards, 4 TD’s; no interceptions - and rushed for 96 yards. Huff added another 125 on 6 receptions - but the night belonged to Kenjon Barner. Barner averaged 8.4 yards every time he touched the ball. Barner’s 321 total yards came against what was the nation’s No. 29 rush defense – a defense that had allowed only six rushing TD’s in its previous eight games.

Matt Barkley passed for 484 yards and 4 TD’s, 157 of those coming from 12 passes to Marqise Lee.